When designers try to grow their firms, they can encounter roadblocks if the business isn’t ready to scale yet. That’s why all of our new content this week focuses on some of these issues and how to move past them.
First up is a pair of new articles, one about organizing your backend systems to support scaling, and the other about how you may need to shift your brand voice if you want to attract you ideal client.
Ann Feldstein rounds out our latest season of the Creative Genius Podcast with a fascinating chat with Gail Doby about why women judge other women so harshly, and how that affects their professional and personal lives.
We have a brand new Mastery Lesson happening on February 24th! This is an all-new topic: Fast Track Your Success. If you want to grow your business faster, without burning out, you won’t want to miss this live session. Register now!
Lastly, we’re highlighting Pearl Collective’s Daniel and Patti, who are taking on new roles and responsibilities this year! Read all about these rockstars at the bottom of this newsletter.
Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at Pearl! Have a lovely weekend!
Finding the Gaps in Your Client Journey
Is your firm successful on the outside but a “disorganized mess” on the inside? If you have a $1M+ business but lack the freedom to enjoy your life, your backend systems are likely hitting a growth ceiling. It’s time to move from “managing people” to “leading systems”. By standardizing your client onboarding and involving your team in creating repeatable procedures, you can stop being the bottleneck and start being the CEO. Learn how to bridge the gaps, protect your profit, and reclaim your “Time Freedom” today.
Shifting Your Brand Voice to Attract Your Ideal Client
Is your brand voice stuck in the past? As your design firm levels up, your language needs to follow suit. If you’re still using “dabbler language,” you may be attracting clients who focus on price over value. It’s time to shift from “I” to “we,” ditch the people-pleasing “work with any budget” talk, and speak directly to the lifestyle and results your ideal clientele craves.
Why do we judge women who don’t wear makeup or choose not to have families? Ann Feldstein joins Gail Doby to discuss the roots of internalized misogyny and how it affects our industry. From the “fairy tale complex” to the Barbie movie, we’re diving deep into why women are so hard on each other—and how we can start ruling the world together instead.
What if you could grow your interior design business faster and smarter?
Join Pearl Collective interior design business consultants Erin Weir & Daniel Nieto for a high‑impact, in‑person workshop designed to help designers gain clarity, strengthen profitability, and build momentum.
This session is practical, direct, and designed for immediate application.
New Roles at Pearl Collective
We caught up with Pearl Collective team members Daniel and Patti, who recently received exciting promotions within our company. If you’ve gone through coaching or attended one of our Mastery Lessons, you’ll know why Daniel and Patti are more than deserving of their new roles and responsibilities!
Daniel Nieto – Client Experience Manager
What do many people not know about your background prior to joining Pearl Collective?
I was a licensed real estate agent in Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia and Colorado, representing residential and commercial tenants, buyers and sellers, and I’ve closed over $150M worth of deals.
What is your new role with Pearl?
Client Experience Manager
What do you love the most about the work you do?
I have a great appreciation for the amount of work it takes to run a successful design firm, and tremendous admiration for those who seek help when they’re struggling in their business. It’s very rewarding to be trusted by our clients, and I enjoy brainstorming and getting into the weeds while helping them come up with solutions to their challenges.
What do you do when you’re not working?
If I’m not hanging out with Vanessa and our 3 shelties, Chanel No 5, Oscar de la Renta, and Armani, I’m playing golf in a men’s league, or playing poker in Black Hawk (Colorado casino town).
What excites you about 2026 and beyond?
I’m excited about modernizing the way we communicate with our clients, the new software we’ll be introducing to track their firms’ KPIs, and continuing to grow the community and positively impact the lives of interior designers across the country.
Patti Julber – Leadership Team
What do many people not know about your background prior to joining Pearl Collective?
My first degree is in Spanish, and I moved to Mexico City straight out of college.
What is your new role with Pearl?
I am still the Director of Coaching, but now I am also a part of the Leadership Team that helps decide the direction of Pearl Collective.
What do you love the most about the work you do?
I love coaching and helping people to gain the confidence to truly step into the CEO role. I also love co-leading the VIP Experience as the entry point into Pearl Collective.
What do you do when you’re not working?
I enjoy cooking new foods, walking my dog, and exploring new places.
What excites you about 2026 and beyond?
I am excited by the energy surrounding 2026 as a year we can help many more people to truly grow their businesses in a meaningful way! I am also excited by my new home in Todos Santos, Mexico, and enjoying winters there.
The interior design industry is evolving—and the businesses leading it are the ones willing to share what’s really happening behind the scenes.
This week’s focus: the 2025 Interior Design Business Practices Survey, developed by Pearl Collective in collaboration with American Society of Interior Designers, Business of Home, and Interior Talent.
In just 15 minutes, interior design business owners and independent practitioners can contribute real-world insight on:
- Fee structures and pricing models
- Business operations and team structures
- Growth trends shaping the future of the profession
Your responses will directly inform the 2025 Interior Design Business Practices Report, a benchmarking resource designed to help firms make smarter, more strategic decisions.
As a thank-you for participating, you may opt in to:
- A drawing to win one of five $200 gift cards
- Complimentary early access to the full report in April 2026
All responses are anonymous and reported only in aggregate.
Your voice matters.